Walkway



F. H. MEYER Jan. 26, 1932.

WALKWAY Filed June 22, 1928 y B J 4 V///// /////////M Patented Jan. 26,1932 onrreo starts PATENTOFFICE FREDERICK H. MEYER, OF GRAND RAPIDS,MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO LEITELT IRON WORKS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ACORPORATION OF MICHIGAN" WALKWAY Application filed June 22,

This invention relates to iron walkways particularly suited for drykilns and the like.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form ofwalkway that will be rigid and simple in construction; to provide awalkway with a. foot guard along the side edges thereof; to providestrong and simple means for securing successive sections of the walkwaytogether; and to provide an improved form of clamp for securing thewalkway sections to supporting stringers.

an illustrative embodiment of this invention shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary View in perspective of asection of my improved walkway secured on a supporting stringer and thecomplementary end of another walkway section in spaced relation thereto'reparatory to joining the two sections toget er.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation of my improved formof clamp in place holding a walkway section to a supporting stringer,the stringer and walkway being shown in section.

Fig. 3 a view looking to the left in Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a sectional view taken on the line ti e of Fig. 2.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the sections of walkwaycomprise a pair of angle bars 1 and 2 positioned in spaced paral' lelrelation, each arranged with one flange 3 and a respectively in ahorizontal plane and extending inwardly toward the other.

The other flanges 5 and 6 of the angle bars extend upwardly from thehorizontal flanges, and are preferably of slightly greator width, asshown most ciearly in Fig. 3,

Treads for the walkway sections are pro vided and comprise a pluralityof relatively flat, thin rectangular shaped bars 7 placed in edgewiseposition in spaced parallel relation at right angles to the angle bars 1and 2. with their ends resting upon theinwardly disposed horizontalflanges 3 and 4. The lower side edges of the treads 7 rest upon theflanges and are welded thereto at a point adjacent the outer edge of theflange, as shown at 8 in Fig. 4.

The ends of the treads 7 abut against the 1928. Serial No. 287,581.

upstanding flanges of the angle irons and are welded thereto at theupper corner of the tread as shown at 9 in Fig. 4.

The height of the upstanding flanges 5 and 6 is preferably greater thanthe width of the treads 7 so that the flanges extend over the top planeofthe treads to form foot guardsalong the side edges of the walkwaysections.

Means are provided for coupling successive sections in end to endabutting relation ship and comprise rectangular shaped connecting bars10 and 11 welded on the outer sides of the flanges 5 and 6 respectivelat one end of the walkway section. The are 10 and 11 are in axialalignment with said flanges and a portion thereof protrudes be yond theends of their respective flanges.

The opposite end of the walkway section has complementary sleeves 12 and13 for receiving the aforementioned protruding ends of connecting barson a similarly formed section. The sleeves 12 and 13 comprise sectionsof channel iron having the outer edges of their flanges Welded to theouter face of the upstanding flanges of the angleirons in axialalignment therewith, said channel irons thus facing in and formingrectangular shaped passageways for slidably embracing the protrudingends of the connecting bars 10 and 11.

Improved means are provided for securing the Walkway sections tosupporting stringers and comprise a clamp havinga relatively flat, thinhead 14 with the end portion 15 thereof bent back upon itself to form ahook. The width of the hooked head is substantially the same as thespaces between the treads 7 so that when the head is hooked over andembraces the upstanding flange 5 the portion 15 extends down the insideof the flange and snugly fits between a pair of adjacent treads as shownmost clearly in Fig. 2. The head 14 is provided with a shank 16 adaptedto extend down and be bent around the lower edge of a supportingstringer 17 as shown at 18. i

In the installation of this walkway the sections are preferably made infifteen foot lengths, one end of each being provided with the protrudingconnecting bars and the opposite end thereof provided with thecomplementary sleeves.

Successive sections are placed on the supporting stringer 17 with theiradjacent ends connected in abutting relation by sliding the bars and 11into the sleeves 12 and 13 respectively of the next succeeding section.

m edges of the walkway.

The heads 14 of the clamp are then hooked over the supporting flanges ofthe angle irons,

at points closely adjacent the supporting stringers and the shanks 16are bent around the stringer to secure the clamp in place. i The twopoints of welding, 8 and 9, of

the treads to the anglebars issuch that very r1g1d construction results,and the upstandingjflanges of the angle bars-being of greater heightthan the top plane of the treads 7 provide a foot guide along the sideAlthough but one specific embodiment of this invention has been, hereinshown and de scribed, it willibe understood that numerous .details ofthe construction shown may be altered orromitted without departing fromthe spirit of this invention asdefined' bythe following claims.

, I claim 1. A walkway ofthe character described comprising a pair ofspaced parallel angle horizontally disposed flanges, said end and sideedges being secured to'said angle barsfihe upwardly extending flangesof the anglebars adjacent one end-thereof provided Wlth rec tangularshaped connecting members welded to the outer sides thereof inaxialalignment with said flanges and with a portion thereof projectingbeyond the ends of its angle bar,

and the other end of said section having-- sleeves to receive. andembrace the pro ectmg ends of the'connecting bars of an ad acentsimilarly formedwalkway section, said sleeves being, formed by welding.the outer edges of a channel iron. to the outer sides. of theupstanding. flangesof said anglebars.

2. A walkway of the character. described comprising a pair of spaced.parallel angle bars each arranged with one flange thereof horizontallydisposed. and inwardly extend:- ing, and the other flange thereofextending upwardly therefrom, a plurality of trans" versely extendingrectangular shaped tread. bars disposed in vertical edgewise positionwith their ends abutting against said upwardly extending flanges-and'their lower side edges adjacent the ends resting upon said horizontallydisposed flanges, said end and side edges being secured to said anglebars, the upwardly'extending flanges of the angle bars adjacent one endthereof provided with rectangular shaped connecting members Welded tothe outer sidesthereof in axialv having. sleeves to receive and embracethe projecting-ends of the connecting'bars of an ad acent similarlyformed walkway section,

" "saidsleeves being formed by Welding the outer edges of a channel ironto the outer sides of the upstandingflanges of said angle bars, and aclamp consisting of a. relatively flat thin headof substantially thesame width as the spacing between the cross bars of said walkwaysection,'said head beingfolded back upon itself to form a hook adaptedto embrace the upstanding flange of said angle iron and extend down theinner side thereof between the cross bars, said hooked head having ashank adapted to be bent around a supporting stringer for holdingsaidwa-lkway section. thereon. I

j 3. A walkway of the character described comprising a pair of spacedparallel angle bars each arranged with one flange thereof horizontallydisposed and. inwardly extending, and the other flange thereof extendingupwardly therefrom, and a plurality of transversely extendingrectangular shaped tread bars'disposed in vertical edgewise po sitionwith. their ends abutting against said upwardly extending flanges andtheir lower side edges adj acent the ends resting upon said horizontallydisposed flr nges, said end and sideedges being secured to said anglebars, the upwardly extending flanges of the angle bars. adjacent one endthereof provided with rectangular shaped connecting. members welded tothe outer sides thereof in axial alignment with-said flanges and with aportion thereofv projectingbeyond the ends of itsangl'e bar,.-and ,theotherend; ofsaid sect on. havmg sleeves to rece ve and embrace the.projecting ends of the connecting bars of an adjacent-similarly formedwalkway section, said'sleevesbeing, formed by welding the-outer edges ofa channel-iron to the outer, sides of the upstanding. flanges of saidangle bars,the;upstanding flanges of the angle bars being extended ateach side of the walkway above the uppered ges of the tread bars toformffoot guards at opposite sides of the Walkway. p

In. testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Grand Rapids,Michigan, this 15th day of June, 1928.

FREDERICK H. MEYER.

